Accidental explosion in Nepal: 3 rebels killed

Accidental explosion in Nepal: 3 rebels killed

At least three communist rebels were killed when explosives they were carrying accidentally detonated in the southern hills of Nepal , an official said Tuesday. Two villagers at Sarikhet, about 160 kilometers (125 miles) south of the capital Katmandu , were also wounded in the blast.

Modraj Dotel, the chief government official in the region, said details were still sketchy as the village was in a remote area. One of those killed was a woman and the others were men. They apparently dropped the explosive device setting it off, Dotel said.

The rebels, who say they are inspired by Chinese revolutionary Mao Zedong, have been fighting since 1996 to replace the constitutional monarchy with a socialist state. The insurgency has claimed about 13,000 lives , reports the AP.

N.U.